Clovis gallups to state

March 7, 2005

By John Eisel: CNJ sports writer

The Clovis Lady Wildcats finished the regular season undefeated for the second time in school history. The problem is defending champion Mayfield also finished unbeaten, leaving a newly created seeding committee with the tough decision of choosing the top seed in the eight-team Class 5A girls state basketball tournament.

The committee consisting of representatives from all four Class 5A districts awarded Mayfield the No. 1 seed, leaving Clovis to settle for No. 2.

Mayfield (25-0) beat Clovis 57-49 in last year’s state title game.

Clovis coach Miles Watters didn’t want to comment on being the second seed, but has said there’s no real difference between getting the first and second seed because Mayfield and Clovis are on opposite sides of the bracket and could only meet in the finals. He also said there’s not much difference between No. 3 Rio Rancho and No. 4 Sandia as far as quality.

New Mexico Activities Association communications coordinator Robert Zayas said he couldn’t go into specifics about the seeding process, which is in its first year.

“They did an overall look at the entire team’s success through the entire season,” he said.

Of the other seven teams in the girls 5A bracket, Clovis (27-0) has beaten Sandia, Rio Rancho and La Cueva this season, including Sandia three times in district play and Rio Rancho twice in tournaments.